ArmA3 / Apex Timeline

[lexx 1364]

Hey Folks,

 

I'm doing a little research right now and I stumbled over a problem... maybe there's something I'm not seeing here, but for now I remain confused.

 

First, what we know:

- "The East Wind" ends on the 10th August 2035.

- "Apex" begins a day later, the 11th August 2035. This is weird, but was already known-- how is Miller able to skip over to the Horizon Islands in such a short amount of time, and if I remember right, it was even said in the Apex campaign that he is there already for a few weeks. This doesn't work and is probably an oversight (unless mentioned anywhere in videos or dialog, this should have been an easy fix, though? Just push the dates forward a few weeks?)

- There is no NATO vs. CSAT conflict going on while "Apex" takes place. (CTRG killing CSAT doesn't count, as it's pretty much secret special forces vs secret special forces)

- There IS a NATO vs. CSAT conflict going on in the VTOL showcase.

 

Here's the catch now:

Based on the VTOL showcase mission file, it takes place on the 10th June 2035, which is a full month *before* "The East Wind" even starts, and we know for sure at this time there was no direct battle / conflict going on?

Maybe this is another oversight with the dates? Or is it more that the showcase scenarios are just that.. "showcases" that don't represent the actual timeline / lore?

Is it possible, the conflict on Altis sparked firefights everywhere were NATO and CSAT are sitting close together? If so, why? My understanding is, that "The East Wind" conflict is more a kind of proxy war-- we *know* that CSAT didn't want to fight NATO, otherwise they wouldn't have retreated back from the island as quickly as they did. Still, a few flashpoints spread out on the borders seem possible.. which would mean, there can be fighting on Tanoa, just not a very big one (that wouldn't make much sense, no?).

 

Also, by chance, do we have any other Horizon Islands lore? Apex is letting everything related to that quite open. We only know that CSAT actively caused havoc, which resulted in Solomon Maru to gain strength and expand on the island (though we don't exactly know for how much... besides, it's not like the island is very big anyway).

 

That's all for now.

[R0adki11 3949]

@lexxyou may find this useful, the Armaverse Timeline - https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Armaverse_Timeline

[lexx 1364]

Yes, I'm looking at that one, but it doesn't really answer the questions. It even underlines them more, imo. East Wind takes place from July 2035 to August 2035, which is not very long (and it makes sense considering the setting). The Orange DLC already starts on 17th August 2035 and talks about post-war Altis, so all songs are sung, the conflict here is definitely over (for now).

 

Questions reminds, what's up with the VTOL showcase timeline? It doesn't really make sense, unless there is more we don't know. Also it's not mentioned in the linked timeline, which would support the "this isn't lore"-theory.

 

It's really hard to (potentially) stay true to the Horizon Islands lore, because... well, there isn't really any. :>

 

/edit: If I would have to pin it down, then I'd settle the VTOL showcase between the 8th and 9th August, because that's when NATO invaded Altis and CSAT started their retreat. It was a semi-direct attack on CSAT forces (airport, etc.), followed by CSAT forces starting a counter-attack, followed by a retreat after NATO pushed back (they wouldn't retreat if they want to take up a fight.. and if they don't want to do this here, why would they on the Horizon Islands?).

[drebin052 324]

1 hour ago, lexx said:

Questions reminds, what's up with the VTOL showcase timeline? It doesn't really make sense, unless there is more we don't know. Also it's not mentioned in the linked timeline, which would support the "this isn't lore"-theory.

 

I think you can forget about the VTOL showcase, or any of the other showcases for that matter being canonical at all (Tanks and Armed Assault are good examples of showcases that're completely out of whack in the current timeline).

 

Quote

/edit: If I would have to pin it down, then I'd settle the VTOL showcase between the 8th and 9th August, because that's when NATO invaded Altis and CSAT started their retreat. It was a semi-direct attack on CSAT forces (airport, etc.), followed by CSAT forces starting a counter-attack, followed by a retreat after NATO pushed back (they wouldn't retreat if they want to take up a fight.. and if they don't want to do this here, why would they on the Horizon Islands?).

 

At the start of Apex Protocol, Pacific NATO forces are simply taking part in the "Safe Horizon" training exercises on Tanoa; they aren't invading anywhere. This is exactly what CSAT are protesting about at the start of the campaign intro.

 

Aside from...

 

Spoiler

Viper Team

 

...no conventional CSAT forces are actually present on Tanoa itself at the time of Apex Protocol's actual events. Salvo even directly mentions this in one of the conversations: "CSAT definitely aren't meant to be here."

[lexx 1364]

Don't remember the dialog, as I can't really force myself to replay the Apex missions.. just too tedious with the respawn timer and all that multiplayer jazz.... Anyway, what you write would make sense. Basically we'd only see a few NATO folks sitting around somewhere, while Solomon Maru can do pretty much whatever he wants, except for the areas where the Gendarmerie is present.

 

Regarding the showcases, though, the new Jets showcase pretty much fits into the timeline. It's on the 9th August, and the ORBAT markers are in their correct positions as well. So I'd say it isn't exactly a general rule for them to be "fantasy".

[Wiki 1558]

To me, as others said, the showcase MUSTN'T be taken into account in the timeline.

These are just showcases to - well, showcase some features or assets.

 

Some of them could be included in the ArmA 3 timeline, (like the FFV showcase) but that's all.

 

Concerning the strange timeline East WInd / Apex, I agree on that.

Miller can't be both in Altis and Tanoa on the same time.

This should be fixed.

 

Last but not least, I don't think (if I understand it well) that NATO and CSAT are willing to have an opened conflict.

Although they may not like each other, it's not in their interest to go to war with each other.

 

In Altis, NATO is dealing with training the AAF only and CSAT on counter insurgency and such - but they don't get involved with each other.

Same for Apex, it's more a destabilizing operation conducted by CSAT, but only towards Tanoa gov - not NATO.

 

There is a fight between CSAT SF and CTRG, but nothing official.